Heart Rate Monitor for Zwift: Chest Strap & Armband That Just Pair

This page is for indoor cyclists and runners who want a reliable, inexpensive heart rate sensor for Zwift on an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, PC or Mac. Heart rate drives Zwift's zone workouts, so a dropout-free sensor matters.

The one-line answer: yes, both Powr Labs heart rate monitors pair with Zwift, over Bluetooth or ANT+. The Chest HRM broadcasts both protocols at the same time, so it works with whichever one your Zwift device uses, and you can hand Bluetooth to Zwift while a Garmin or Wahoo computer listens on ANT+.

Which Powr Labs monitor should you use with Zwift?

Powr Labs chest strap heart rate monitor

Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor

Best for Zwift: ECG accuracy catches interval surges instantly, dual ANT+/Bluetooth covers every Zwift device, and a CR2032 means it is never flat before a race.

$45 · ANT+ & Bluetooth · ±1 bpm ECG accuracy · CR2032 battery, 300+ hours

View the Chest HRM →

Powr Labs armband heart rate monitor

Armband Heart Rate Monitor

Best if you dislike a chest strap or want Zwift, a bike computer and a phone app all reading at once.

$74.99 · optical sensor · rechargeable, up to 38 hours · auto-wear detection · up to 3 devices at once

Currently sold out. Email support@powr-labs.com to be notified when it is back. Product page →

Zwift device Protocol to use Chest HRM Armband
iPhone / iPad Bluetooth Yes Yes
Apple TV Bluetooth Yes Yes
PC / Mac ANT+ dongle or Bluetooth Yes (both) Yes (both)
Android Bluetooth Yes Yes

How to pair a heart rate monitor with Zwift

Before you pair: the one rule that fixes most problems

The chest strap only wakes up when it touches your skin. Do these every time, in this order:

  1. Wet the two textured pads on the back of the strap with a splash of water.
  2. Put the strap on just below your chest muscles, snug but comfortable, with the wet pads flat against your skin. The "L" mark on the sensor points to your left.
  3. Clear old pairings. If the monitor shows up in your phone's Settings → Bluetooth list, tap "Forget This Device." The strap holds one Bluetooth connection at a time.
  4. Pair from inside the app or device sensor menu, never from the phone's main Bluetooth menu.
  5. Watch the logo light. When it connects, the white light flashes for about 20 seconds and then turns off. That is normal; you are still connected.

Armband instead? Slide it onto your forearm near the elbow or your upper arm, sensor flat against the inside of your arm. It turns on when it touches skin; hold still 10–15 seconds, then select "Powr Labs Armband HRM" in your app.

Zwift on iPhone, iPad or Android (Bluetooth)

  1. Wear the monitor and open Zwift.
  2. On the pairing screen, tap the Heart Rate box.
  3. Zwift scans for sensors; select your Powr Labs monitor from the list.
  4. Tap OK and start your ride. Your heart rate appears in the top-left HUD.

Zwift on Apple TV

Apple TV allows two Bluetooth sensors plus the Siri remote. Pair your trainer first, then the heart rate monitor; for more sensors, bridge them through the Zwift Companion app on your phone.

  1. Wear the monitor and open Zwift on Apple TV.
  2. Select the Heart Rate box on the pairing screen.
  3. Choose the Powr Labs monitor, then select OK.

Zwift on PC or Mac (ANT+ or Bluetooth)

  1. Plug in your ANT+ USB dongle (recommended) or make sure the computer's Bluetooth is on.
  2. Wear the monitor and open Zwift.
  3. Click the Heart Rate box; Zwift lists the monitor with an ANT+ or Bluetooth icon. Pick the protocol you want.
  4. Click OK and ride.

Zwift's official steps are in its heart rate monitor guide.

Zwift troubleshooting

  • Heart Rate box stays empty. The strap is not awake or something else owns its Bluetooth connection. Wet the pads, put it on, "Forget" it in your phone's Bluetooth settings, then search again.
  • Dropouts on a PC or Mac. Put the ANT+ dongle on a USB extension close to you, away from the trainer motor and router, or switch the sensor to Bluetooth.
  • Apple TV cannot see the monitor. You have hit the two-device Bluetooth limit. Bridge sensors through the Zwift Companion app, or pair the trainer and heart rate monitor only.
  • Two apps at once. Zwift on Bluetooth and a Garmin or Wahoo on ANT+ works fine with the chest strap. Two Bluetooth apps on the chest strap does not; use the armband for that.
  • Reading flat-lines after an hour. Pads dried out; re-wet them. No logo flash when you put it on means a flat CR2032.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Powr Labs chest strap work with Zwift?

Yes. Zwift accepts both Bluetooth and ANT+ heart rate sensors, and the Powr Labs Chest HRM broadcasts both at the same time. Pair from the Heart Rate box on Zwift's pairing screen on iOS, iPad, Apple TV, PC or Mac.

Bluetooth or ANT+ for Zwift?

Use Bluetooth on phones, tablets and Apple TV. On a PC or Mac, use an ANT+ dongle if you have one; it is the most stable option in a room full of Bluetooth devices. If one protocol is shaky, switch to the other on the pairing screen.

Can I use Zwift and my Garmin watch with one chest strap?

Yes. Pair Zwift over Bluetooth and your Garmin over ANT+. ANT+ is a broadcast, so any number of ANT+ receivers can listen while one Bluetooth device stays connected.

Does the armband work with Zwift?

Yes, over Bluetooth or ANT+, and it can hold up to three connections at once. It is currently sold out; email support@powr-labs.com for a restock notice.

Why does Zwift show my heart rate but my phone's Bluetooth menu does not list the monitor?

That is expected. Heart rate sensors are meant to be paired inside the app, not in the phone's Bluetooth settings. If it does appear there, tap Forget so apps can find it.

Ready to train with heart rate on Zwift?

Every monitor ships from Park City, Utah with a 12-month no-questions warranty and 30-day returns. More help: pairing guide for every app and device and Chest HRM help & support.

Peloton, Zwift, Garmin, Apple Watch and Strava are trademarks of their owners. Powr Labs is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.